Description: The largest of the asian antelope,
the nilgai was first described by Pallas in 1766. The short
coat is yellow-brown in females, and gradually turns
blue-grey in males as they mature. There is an erectable
mane on the nape and back and a "hair pennant" in the middle
of the underside of the neck. There are white markings in
the form of cheek spots, edges of the lips, and a throat
bib. Along the underside is a thin white stripe, which
"balloons" at the rear. The slender legs support a stocky
body, which slopes downwards towards the rear. The head is
long and slender. Males have 20-25 cm / 8-10 inch long horns
which are straight and tilted slightly forwards.

Reproduction: Weaning: By 10 months. Sexual
Maturity: Around 18 months. Life span: Up to 21 years.
Gestation Period: About 8 months. Young per Birth: Generally
2 (over 60% of births), sometimes 1 or 3. Breeding occurs
throughout the year, but the peak of mating is
December-March, with the resulting calves born in September
and October.

Social Behavior: The nilgai is mainly diurnal,
with peaks in activity in the early morning and late
afternoon. The sense of sight is well developed among this
wary species. When chased, nilgai can run up to 48 kmph / 29
mph. Males have been observed to establish territories
during the breeding season, attempting to gather and keep
small herds of females (up to 10) within their area. Males
compete with each other with threatening posture displays
and neck wrestling, rarely leading to both rivals kneeling
and lunging at each other with their horns. Normally silent,
nilgai have been recorded making a roaring vocalization. The
population density in central India is about 0.07 animals
per square kilometer. Single sex or mixed herds of 4-20
individuals, old bulls may be solitary.

The Nilgai's preferred habitat is grassy steppe and
woodlands area. In Pakistan this Antelope is mainly found in
extensive Desert regions, such as Cholistan in Punjab and
Thar in Sind. Today the Nilgai is mainly found along the
Indo-Pak border in the eastern part of the country. Here
they are normaly found solitary. The Nilgai is also found in
Changa Manga Plantation near Lahore. Unconfirmed report also
come from Azad Kashmir, but the numbers here are thought to
be very low. 220 Nilgai were counted in 1999 by the Sind Wildlife Department in the district of Tharparkar.

The Nilgai is now rare in the country, but reintroduction
programs are in place and it is hoped that these will be
released in the wild to secure the few remaining herds.

Description: One of the few antelope which
exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, the genders in the
blackbuck are readily distinguishable. Both sexes have white
underparts, including the insides of the legs and lower
chest, as well as a white ring surrounding the eye and a
white chin. Females and young are yellowish-fawn on their
back and head, and are generally hornless. Males gradually
darken from tan to deep brown or black with age, beginning
after 2 years. The build is slender, and the tail short. The
horns, found only in males and appearing before their
pronounced colour change, are twisted in a tight spiral with
up to five turns. Ridged laterally, they may grow 35-73 cm /
14-29 inches.

Reproduction: Gestation Period: 5-6 months. Young
per Birth: 1 Although breeding can occur throughout the
year, there are peak periods in March-May and
August-October. Weaning: 5-6 months. Sexual Maturity: 1.5-2
years. Life span: 10-12 years, rarely up to 18.

Social Behavior: During the cooler seasons,
blackbuck are diurnal, and active intermittently throughout
the hours of daylight. As the temperature rises, however,
they are more often seen grazing in the open in the early
morning and late afternoon, sheltering from the sun for the
rest of the day. When a potential threat is spotted, the
alert females are usually first to sound the alarm, with one
individual leaping into the air. This motion is followed by
the entire herd, although after a few large bounds the herd
reduces its pace to a normal gallop. One of the fastest land
mammals, blackbuck have been clocked going in excess of 80
kmph / 48 mph.. During the breeding season males become
territorial, defending an area usually ranging in size from
1 to 17 hectares from rival males, and attempting to keep
the largest group of females within it for the longest
period of time. This territoriality can last anywhere from
two weeks to eight months. Mixed herds with 5-50 animals,
generally with three or fewer males. Bachelor herds are
known. Dominance among males within a herd is achieved
primarily with posturing and threatening gestures: fights
with the sharp horns are rare.

Blackbucks are native to India and Pakistan, where
they were widespread in plains and open woodlands; western
deserts, and northern mountains limited their distribution.
Today, extensive hunting and habitat destruction have
restricted blackbuck to only small, isolated populations in
their former native habitat.

In Pakistan the blackbuck lives in semi-desert
areas, such as Cholistan and Thar. Today the blackbuck is an
ocassional staggler along the eastern desert border areas of
the country. There is no permant resident population today
in Pakistan. During the late 1970's and early 80's small
populations of blackbuck were brought from Texas, U.S.A to
start a reintroduction program in Pakistan. These projects
have had some success and now there are small captive
populations of blackbuck in 3-4 locations, particularly in
Kirthar and lal Sohanra National Parks. The breeding success achieve at Lal Sohanra is 413 animals (Dr. A.Aleem,1998) where as from Khar time to time number of Black Bucks provided to the eminent conservationists for further propagation in their private reserve. At present about 500 animals are surviving in Mir of Khairpurs Mehrano reserve, 110 at Khangur, Ghotki and 70 at New Jatoi, Nawab Shah. However at Khar Center only 35 animals (R.A.Rajput 1999) remain. Except these, some are kept in different zoo's, wildlife centres and in possession of individuals. At present all together about 1500 Black Bucks are reared in captivity and they are surviving in Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan. These will be
released in the wild in the near future.

Chinkara or
Indian Gazelle

( Gazella Bennettii )

PHOTO CREDIT:
WWF-Pakistan

Local name:Hiran (Urdu)

Description and Biology:

Size:

Shoulder Height: 65cm..

Weight: 23kg.

Description: The Chinkara, whilst resembeling
closely the Goitred Gazelle in external appearance and
colouring, is on average a slightly smaller animal. The
principal differences related only to the absence of any
enlargement or swelling in the larynx, differences in the
pelage, and the development of the horns. In summer coat,
the Indian Gazelle is of warm biscuit, or reddish-buff
colour, with the fur smooth and highly glossy. Even in
winter coat the white belly and throat fur is smooth and
short in contrast to that of the Goitred Gazelle. The tail
is medium long and covered with a dorsal crest of black
hairs. There are indistinct horizontal and pyreal stripes
bordering the flanks and caudal areas in summer coat. The
sides of the face are also patterned with broad dark
chestnut stripes from the corner of the eye to the muzzle
bordered above and below by white stripes. The average horn
length of males is 25.5-30.5 cm (10-12 in) measured over the
curve, with record horns reaching just over 39cm
(15.5in).

Reproduction: Weaning: At about two months. Sexual
Maturity: At two years of age. Life span: Unknown. Gestation
Period: About five to five and a half months. Young per
Birth: Generally 1, but twins have been reported quite
frequently. In Pakistan, the rut appears it occur in two
seasons, one lasting from the end of monsoon up to early
October and again in the late Spring from March to the end
of April. The births occure mainly in April.

Social Behavior: In its wide roaming habits,
tendency tom keep to small groups of two to three
individuals and its general alertness, the Chinkara is very
similar to the Goitered Gazelle. The Chinkara is almost
wholly nocturnal in foraging activity, though they will
emerge to start feeding before sunset.

Diet: Chinkara's are adapted to browsing and they
will browse on various bushes and green twigs. They also
take leaves of different plants and can go without water for
days (all above information from "The
Mammals of Pakistan" by T.J Roberts) .

Habitat and Distribution:

A very adaptable animal , it seems to be able to
exist in extensive sand-dune areas down to sea level as well
as in stony plateaus and low hilly regions up to 1,500m
elevation. The Chinkara is severly reduced in numbers,
perhaps to the point of extinction, in the desert regions of
all along the eastern border of Pakistan. It is not however
, in danger of extinction in the country as a whole, because
it is so widespread and also lives in rocky escarpment
areas. The Chinkara is now rare in the Thal desert. They
survive in good numbers in Sibi plains, Mekran, Turbat and
Lasbela in Baluchistan. They are also found in Kirthar hills
and also in Margalla hills, but numbers in Margalla hills
are believed to be very small. Isolated populations are also
found in Salt Range, Kala Chitta hills and Cholistan in
Punjab and Thar desert in Sind. A helicopter survey conducted in November 2000 by the staff of the Sindh Wildlife Department, Zoological Survey Department and the University of Melbourne yielded estimates of the total populations of the Chinkara at 1060 ± 580 in Kirthar National Park. Chinkara's are ruthlesly
hunted by local people and hunters and this has resulted in
the reduction of once plentiful population in Pakistan
(all above information from "The
Mammals of Pakistan" by T.J Roberts).

Goitered
Gazelle

( Gazella Subgutturosa
Subgutterosa )

PHOTO CREDIT: Iran
Safari

Local name:Hiran (Urdu)

Description and Biology:

Size:

Body Length: 90-115 cm / 3-3.8 ft

Shoulder Height: 60-80 cm / 2-2.6 ft

Tail Length: 15-20 cm / 6-8 in

Weight: 18-33 kg / 40-73 lb

Description: The light brown body darkens towards
the belly, where it joins with the white underparts in a
crisp line. The typical facial marking of gazelles are
pronounced only in juveniles - with age the forehead and
nose bridge turn white, with only the brown eye-nose stripe
remaining. The tail is black in colour, conspicuous against
the white buttocks when raised in flight. Unlike the rest of
the "true gazelles", only the male goitered gazelle carries
horns, which grow 25-43 cm / 10-17.2 inches long. Black in
colour and sharply diverging, the horns form an "S" shaped,
bending up backwards, and turning in at the tips. During the
rut, the larynx of males bulges outwards, resembling a
goiter.

Reproduction: Gestation Period: 5-6 months.Young
per Birth: 1 or 2, rarely up to 4. Unlike many gazelles, the
goitered gazelle has a restricted breeding season. This
occurs from November to January, with the resulting births
taking place in April and May. The young lie camouflaged
away from their mothers for the first 2 weeks, gaining
strength and stability on their wobbly legs. The mother
generally returns to nurse three times each day. Weaning:
After 4-5 months. Sexual Maturity: Females at 9 months,
males around 18 months

Social Behavior: During the summer, most activity
takes place in the late afternoon and early morning,
consisting of leisurely walking and simultaneous grazing. At
midday, herds take shelter in the shade, where they excavate
shallow oval-shaped pits to lie in. During the cooler winter
months, this midday break is significantly reduced, and
sometimes even eliminated. If disturbed from its shelter, a
goitered gazelle rapidly flees for 200-300 meters, pausing
to assess the danger from this distance. A broad circular
path is then taken back to the original resting spot.
Extremely speedy, these gazelles can run up to 60 kmph / 36
mph. Each animal generally consumes about 30% of its body
weight in green matter per day, and can derive most of its
needed moisture from it. In the spring and summer, groups
may travel to water sources, but even still they rarely
drink daily. Herds cover 10-30 kilometers per day in the
winter, with these distances being reduced nearly tenfold in
summer. Throughout much of their range, goitered gazelles
undergo a seasonal migrations. During the breeding season,
adult males become territorial, using dung middens placed at
strategic locations to indicate ownership. At this time,
males emit hoarse bellows, and glandular activity increases
significantly, with the result that the male is often seen
smearing secretions on objects. Family group: In summer,
small family groups of 2-5 animals; In winter, large herds
with dozens or even hundreds of individuals.

Diet: Grasses, leaves, and shoots.

Habitat and Distribution:

The Goitered Gazelle inhabits the semi-desert and
desert steppe in the West of Baluchistan. It survives in the
Chagai hills and Nushki hills south west of Quetta. Goitered
Gazelle are also found at Chaman, near the border with
Afghanistan. This gazelle is very rare and local in
distribution in Pakistan. Depite this fact, it is hunted by
local people and by visiting Arab hunters, who come each
year to hunt Houbara Bustard. Because of this it is
declining in number and will become extinct if hunting is
not stopped in these regions.

Hog
Deer

( Axis Porcinus
)

PHOTO CREDIT: Para Park Co-Operative
Game Reserve Australia

Local name:Para ( Urdu )

Description and Biology:

Size:

Shoulder Height: over 2 feet

Weight: 75 to 120 lbs

Description: The Hog deer is a close relative of
the Axis deer or Chital, which is now extinct in Pakistan,
but is found in neighbouring India. Adult Hog deers have a
brown coat that gets darker in winter. Though spotted with
indistinct spots, hog deer don't have as bright and
conspicuous spots as spotted deer (chital) do. The older hog
deers get, dimmer the spots become. Hog deers have slender,
three-tined antlers rising from bony pedicals; the browline
making acute angles with the main beam.

Reproduction: The peak of rut season comes during
the monsoon and the hind gives birth to one calf at a
time

Social Behavior: This species of deer is marked by
thick set-appearance and peculiar gait. Reminiscent of the
pig, as their name suggests, hog deer are a strange kind of
deer that run with the heads down and at times collide with
other fellow deers. They prefer to creash shurbs and
undergrowth rather than jumping over them as other deers.
Hog deer are particularly found fewer in group, but on
occasions they can be seen in herds of ten or more. do.

Diet: Being predominantly grazers, they prefer
short grasslands nearby riverbankds and swamps.
(all above information from
Shangri La home page).

Habitat and Distribution:

The Hog deer's prefered habitat is grasslands or
swamps near rivers. In Pakistan it is mainly found in
Riverian forests of river Indus in Lower Sind. The Hog deer
is found in the east Nara and the indus delta forests in the
extreme south of Sind. Due to the controlling of river Indus
by building dams and barrages the habitat of Hog deer has
greatly been reduced to one or two pockets. It is also
hunted extensively by hunters and the local people. The
result is that it has become extremly rare and is now on the
verge of extinction.

Barking
Deer

( Muntiacus Muntjak
)

PHOTO CREDIT: Deer Net

Local name:Kakar ( Urdu )

Description and Biology:

Size:

Shoulder Height: 1 foot 8 inches to 2 feet

Weight: 45 lbs

Description: Barking deer are the smallest in size
of all deer. The stags have very small antlers, not more
than 4 inches long, with short brow lines and straight,
unforked beams which grow backwards. Their coat is bright
chestnut and their gait are unlike that of the hog deer,
with heads down and stiff-legged.

Social Behavior: On hearing their name -- Barking
Deer -- one may be prompted to ask whether this deer can
bark like a dog. The name `barking deer' was given to them
for their loud, sharp calls resemble the barks of dogs.
Besides this loud and sharp "bark", this deer also produecs
an indistinct rattling sound when running. Barking deer live
mostly in pairs. Come the mating season, the adult males
fight their rivals. In so doing, they use their
sharp-pointed antlers and razor-sharp canine teeth, badly
wounding each other. do.

Browsers and grazers, barking deer are found in
both sal and riverine forests, but in Pakistan this little
deer is found in a very limited mountanious area. This deer
is mainly found in the Margalla Hills. It is also found in
very few numbers in Azad Kashmir. The main threat to this
deer's survival is loss of habitat, which is so limited in
Pakistan. Uncontrolled livestock grazing may lead this
beautiful deer to the verge of extinction. It's only future
survival is in the Margalla Hills National Park, where there
still may be 30-40 barking deer (T.J Roberts, "Mammals of
Pakistan)

Himalayan
Musk Deer

( Moschus Chrysogaster
)

PHOTO CREDIT: Himachal Online

Local name:Mushk Hiran ( Urdu )

Description and Biology:

Size:

Body Length: 86-100 cm / 2.8-3.3 ft

Shoulder Height: 51-53 cm / 20-21 inches

Tail Length: 4-6 cm / 1.6-2.4 inches

Weight: 11-18 kg / 24-40 lb

Description: The general colour of the coat,
composed of brittle hairs, is a slightly grizzled brown. As
the name suggests, on the chest is a wide vertical
whitish-yellow stripe which extends up the throat to the
chin. The ears are tipped with yellow hairs. The body slopes
forward, as the hind legs are almost one third longer than
the forelegs, causing the height at the rump to be almost 10
cm / 4 inches above the shoulder. The ears are large and
rounded, generally lined with whitish fur. Both sexes have
well-developed upper canines, and in males these may reach a
length of 7 cm / 3 inches and protrude from the mouth in a
fang-like manner. The canines are constantly growing, but,
due to their mobility and fragility, they are easily broken.
There are no antlers as in other deer species.

Reproduction: Weaning: 3-4 months. Sexual
Maturity: 18-24 months. Life span: 12-20 years. Gestation
Period: 6.5 months. Young per Birth: 1, sometimes 2.
Breeding occurs primarily in November-December, with the
resulting being born from May to June. After birth, the
young deer lie hidden in secluded areas, essentially
independent of their mothers except at feeding times. This
hiding period may last up to 2 months.

Social Behavior: Himalayan musk deer are most
active between dusk and dawn, alternately resting and
feeding throughout this period. At night, musk deer can be
seen in the open areas of their habitat as they graze, while
during the day, they remain in dense cover. Neighbouring
individuals may utilize common latrines, an activity with
becomes more frequent during the mating season. Himalayan
musk deer are sedentary, remaining wthin a defined home
range throughout the year. In females these are about 125
acres in size, while male musk deer will control a territory
which encompasses the ranges of several females, defending
it against intrusion by rival males. The Himalayan musk deer
does not undertake any seasonal migrations, remaining in the
same area year-round despite harsh weather conditions. A shy
animal, the musk deer depends on its sense of hearing to
locate sources of danger. When frightened, they make broad
leaps, each measuring up to 6 meters / 19 feet in length.
Drastic changes in direction are made during flight, and
every few jumps the animal will stop and listen.
Communication between individuals is thought to be based
primarily on their sense of smell, due to the high
development of the glands of musk deer. Primarily silent,
musk deer will emit a loud double hiss if alarmed, and may
scream plaintively if wounded. Population densities are
about 3-4 animals per square kilometer. Musk deer are
normally found solitary.

Diet: A wide variety of vegetation, such as grass,
moss and tender shoots. In winter, twigs, buds and lichens
are taken. (all above
information from "The Ultimate Ungulates Page," by Brent
Huffman and WCMC/WWF ).

Habitat and Distribution:

Himalayan Musk deer are found in alpine forest and
scrub at elevations of 2,200-4,300 meters / 7250-14,200 feet
on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. In Pakistan the
Musk deer is found in the remote higher mountain regions of
Gilgit, Baltistan, Upper Swat and Hazara. The musk deer is
also found in the Deosai National Park. It is rare in all of
these regions because of relatively unfavourable habitat.
But the main reason for its rarity is due to persecution
from local hill people for its musk gland, which is used
extensively in the manufacture of perfume, soap, and
medicinal preparations. The musk produced by this genus of
primitive deer is highly held for its cosmetic and alleged
pharmaceutical properties, and can fetch U.S. $45,000 per
kilogram (2.2 pounds) on the international market. Although
this musk, produced in a gland of the males, can be
extracted from live animals, most "musk-gatherers" kill the
animals to remove the entire sac, which yields only about 25
grams (1/40 of a kilogram) of the brown waxy substance.
Because of the demand for this substance, musk deer have
been wiped out in parts of their range. Traps set for male
musk deer often kill females or young. This endangered deer is still not protected in Pakistan.